WWE GREAT AMERICAN BASH FLASHBACK REPORT
JULY 22, 2007
SAN JOSE, CALIF.
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, TORCH EDITOR

-A big pyro show on the stage opened the event. The camera panned the crowd, then Michael Cole and JBL introduced the show. They went to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler next to them. Ross said it's been 20 years since he called his first Great American Bash, but never has there been a more anticipated main event than tonight. Then they went to Joey Styles and Tazz. Styles said it would be the first time that ECW was represented at the Great American Bash.

1 -- MVP vs. MATT HARDY - U.S. Title Match

Cole said the U.S. Title has been a big part of the Great American Bash since its inception in the 1980s. He said MVP likes to talk a big game while Hardy goes about his business quietly. JBL said this would be a test for Hardy to see if he can break through the glass ceiling that has kept him from reaching the next level as a singles wrestler. AT 2:00 Hardy launched himself over the top rope onto MVP on the floor. Cole said that is one big advantage for Hardy in this match - the high-flying aspect. MVP dominated the body of the match. At 11:00 Hardy went on a flurry. He hit a top rope legdrop for a two count. Cole noted that Hardy's head was hurting him from a hard bump he took earlier in the match. Hardy went for a Twist of Fate. MVP kicked him and went for a Playmaker. Hardy countered into a Side Effect for a dramatic near fall. MVP used an innovative roll up for a near fall. Hardy countered with a small package for a near fall. MVP fired back with a clothesline. JBL said, "This is why Smackdown is the A-show." Hardy side-stepped a big boot in the corner and schoolboyed him for a near fall. MVP blocked another Twist of Fate attempt, then nailed Hardy with stiff boot to the face. He followed with a Playmaker for the win.

WINNER: MVP in 12:00.

STAR RATING (**3/4): Very good opener. One of their better matches. They can't quite get it past the three-star range, but what they did certainly added up to a satisfyingly paced opener, with an especially strong final three minutes.

-Todd Grisham interviewed Dusty Rhodes backstage, who cut one of his well-practiced pre-match promos. He went on and on and on, and that was good. It was like drinking around a campfire with Dusty as he told old stories with a ton of inflection and enthusiasm. He even mooed like a cow at the end. I can't say understood half of what he said, but it was entertaining.

2 -- CHAVO GUERRERO vs. SHANNON MOORE vs. JAMIE NOBLE vs. FUNAKI vs. JIMMY WANG YANG - Cruiserweight Title match.

As the match began, Hornswoggle ran into the ring and crawled through everyone in the ring, the jumped back under the ring. The other wrestlers threw Chavo over the top rope at the start of the match. When Cole made reference to Chavo showing his Latino temper, JBL said that was a stereotype. Cole said, "My wife is Latino so I'm very aware of that." JBL said: "I'm surprised your wife is a woman." He asked if she gets mad at him a lot. Cole said yes. As Chavo applied a half Boston crab on Yang, Funaki kicked Chavo in the head to break it up. Chavo gave Funaki the Gory Special. Yang broke up the pin attempt. Chavo went into a series of three vertical suplexes. No Eddie Guerrero reference by the announcers. Yang hit Chavo with a moonsault bodyblock for a near fall, broken up by Noble. Yang backdropped Moore over the top rope to the floor. As Chavo set up a superplex on Yang, Noble jumped in. All three flew off the top rope to the mat. Hornswoggle leaped off the top rope onto Noble and pinned him. The referee counted the pin for some inexplicable reason. Cole asked how that was legal. "Is Hornswoggle a cruiserweight?" he asked. Even if he is a cruiserweight, does that mean he can just enter a match he wasn't part of? Cole again said, "I don't get this. How is this legal?" JBL said if the ref calls it, it's legal. The rest of the cruiserweights looked on in frustration and disbelief. Hornswoggle ran to the back. JBL guessed that because Hornswoggle was in the ring when the bell was wrong, he was legal. Hey fans, remember that rule next time you're at a WWE event and security's not paying close attention to things.

WINNER: Hornswoggle in 8:00 to capture the Cruiserweight Title.

STAR RATING (**): Good action, but the ridiculous (but fun for the kids!) finish knocked it down a notch. The explanation is that since it was the Cruiserweight Open, it was truly open to anyone under a certain weight and in the ring when the match started.

-A music video aired hyping the return of Triple H. No date was offered, although the graphic switched to SummerSlam at the end of the video, so perhaps that's saying that will be Hunter's official return match.

3 -- SANDMAN vs. CARLITO - Cane on a Pole Match

As Sandman made his way through the stands, Ross actually brought up Barry Bonds's name. he said Sandman might be only second to Barry Bonds in the Bay Area as far as swinging a stick. It's probably not a celebrity name to bring up on a WWE telecast given recent events and controversies. Carlito ate an apple on his way to the ring. Carlito spit a mouthful of apple at Sandman before the match. Carlito made an early dash for the poll. Sandman grabbed him and went on early offense. Sandman backdropped Carlito over the top rope and climbed the pole. Carlito quickly returned and knocked him to the mat. He then went for the cane. Sandman got to him quickly. Carlito went on offense for a minute and went for the cane again. Sandman again yanked him down. At 6:00 Sandman ducked a Carlito springboard back elbow and then climbed the pole and yanked down the cane. However, Carlito ducked a swing of the cane and gave Sandman the Backstabber for the win. Sandman seemed to tweak his left knee when he jumped off the ropes after grabbing the cane.

WINNER: Carlito in 7:00.

STAR RATING (*1/4): Fine for a short gimmick match early on the show.

-Grisham interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton asked if he knew that today is Shawn Michaels's birthday. Grisham said he didn't. Orton said neither does Michaels because ever since he punted him and ended his career, he doesn't remember a lot of things. He said after he kicks in Dusty's skull and ends his legend, there won't be much be remembers, either.

4 -- CANDICE MICHELLE vs. MELINA - WWE Women's Title match

When Ross said Melina was taking Candice to the limit, Lawler said he wishes she'd take him to the limit. Ross said, "I think your days of going to the limit are long past."

WINNER: Candice after a standing bulldog at 5:00 to retain the title.

STAR RATING (*1/4): Short match, but really solid action. They did some interesting moves and had good energy and pacing.

-A vignette aired promoting WrestleMania 24 coming to Orlando, Fla. at the Citrus Bowl on March 30. It said tickets would be on sale "this fall."

-Matt Hardy wished his brother Jeff luck. He said he lost his focus for just one second and it cost him, so he urged Jeff to stay focused. Off to the side, Candice celebrated her win by pouring water over her body seductively. Matt and Jeff looked on like a 12 year old seeing his first Internet porn. They did a slow-mo effect for what was a supposedly live spontaneous moment backstage, thus turning it into a corny, over the top, cartoonish bit. Ron Simmons walked in, looked nearly about to faint, and said, "Damn!" I'm sure there were some knee-slapping laughs at home over the fact that the Hardys got all googly-eyed at a hot woman pouring water on her.

5 -- UMAGA vs. JEFF HARDY - Intercontinental Title match

Jeff hit a jaw-jacker, but Umaga countered with a powerful Samoan drop for an early near fall. Umaga dominated from there. He settled into a nerve grip on his neck for several minutes. At 7:00 Hardy teased a comeback and dove off the top rope. Umaga caught him and powered him hard to the mat with a sidewalk slam for a believable near fall. Umaga went for a top rope headbutt, but Hardy moved. Hardy came back with some flying forearms and a reverse sidekick followed by a DDT. Umaga charged at Hardy immediately, but Hardy ducked and Umaga flew over the top rope to the floor. Hardy flew over the top rope onto Umaga on the floor. The ref began counting both men out of the ring. Hardy returned to the ring at eight, and Umaga at eleven. Some fans popped at the count of ten, thinking Hardy won - which is dumb on three accounts: (1) Countouts come at twenty, not ten in WWE; (2) Who likes a countout finish under any circumstances? (3) Titles don't change hands on countouts in WWE so a countout win wouldn't be worth celebrating for Hardy. Hardy went for a sunset flip seconds later in mid-ring. Umaga blocked it, then went to sit on Hardy. Hardy moved, then dropkicked as sitting Umaga leading to a near fall at 10:00. Umaga immediately took over with some punches in the corner, then he charged with the butt-butt. Hardy moved and immediately hit Umaga with a Twist of Fate for a dramatic near fall. Umaga dove at Umaga in the corner, but Hardy moved and Umaga's face hit the corner ringpost. Hardy followed up with a Swanton Bomb. Hardy was slow to make the cover as he grabbed at the back of his neck afterward. When he did make the cover, Umaga kicked out. The crowd was totally into the near falls. Hardy went for a Twist of Fate, but Umaga shoved him off, sidekicked him in the face, rammed him in the corner, and gave him the Samoan Spike for the clean win.

WINNER: Umaga in 12:00.

STAR RATING (**3/4): I'd go higher, but a three minute nerve hold really killed momentum and felt like a house show time filler during the first half of the match. The final minutes were super dramatic - making a case for spending a year building up Jeff as something more than the spirited underdog who ultimately always loses to top tier guys and move him into a main event money position. The fans responded more emotionally to him than all but a few wrestlers in WWE during matches in the past several years. That said, this finish wasn't the wrong finish in the sense that they have more babyfaces than heels right now, especially on Raw with Triple H returning soon, Shawn Michaels in a few months, plus Bobby Lashley and John Cena.

6 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. C.M. PUNK - ECW Hvt. Title Match

Morrison dominated the early minutes. Punk made a comeback at 6:00 and scored some near falls. When the ref caught Morrison using the ropes to try to reverse a leverage pin, Punk rolled up Morrison for a two count. He followed with a shining wizard for another two count. Punk hit Morrison with a running knee to the jaw in the corner. Morrison rolled out of the ring to take a breather as a counter to a Punk bulldog attempt. Morrison grabbed the ECW belt and headed up the ramp. Punk quickly grabbed him and threw him back into the ring. Punk flew off the top rope at Morrison, but Morrison caught him with a knee to the gut for the win.

WINNER: Morrison in 8:00 to retain the ECW Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING (**1/4): Good basic match with some innovative moves relative to most of what WWE matches feature.

-An extended video recap aired of the Randy Orton-Dusty Rhodes feud.

7 -- RANDY ORTON vs. DUSTY RHODES - Bullrope Match

Ross noted that Dusty competed in the first Great American Bash 22 years ago, defeating Tully Blanchard in a cage match. From the distance of the hard camera, he just doesn't look that much different. Not sure if that's a tribute to his youth now in his late 50s or a dig at his looks back then in his mid-30s. Ross said the biggest names in the history of "this business" have been at the other end of a bullrope with Dusty Rhodes. Orton stalled by jumping to ringside before he could be attached to the rope. Ross said nobody deserves a trip to woodshed as much as Orton. He said he has everything to look forward to in life, but has a bad attitude that needs adjusting. When Orton bailed out to ringside in the opening minute, Dusty yanked on the rope, sending Orton into the ringpost. Dusty went to ringside and swung the bullrope at Orton's head. Orton ducked. Orton tried to retreat up the ramp, but Dusty yanked him back, then gave him a bionic elbow. Back in the ring Orton nailed Dusty with a barrage of shots to the left knee with the cowbell, then he stomped on him. At 3:00 Orton went to his comfort zone with a chinlock in mid-ring for two minutes. Dusty began a comeback at 6:00 with punches and an elbow. When he dropped an elbow, Orton moved. He bashed Dusty over the head with the cowbell. Dusty went down and scored the pin.

WINNER: Orton in 6:00.

STAR RATING (*): That long chinlock just killed whatever momentum the match had. It was played out nicely and believably in a relatively exciting way until then.

-After the match, Orton was winding up to punt Dusty's head. Cody Rhodes ran in and made the save, fending off Orton with the cowbell. Orton backed off, but stared down Cody as he did.

-JBL and Cole talked about the Smackdown title situation. An extended recap video aired regarding Edge relinquishing the title followed by the battle royal for the belt and everything leading to the three-way match. Between the last shot of Orton and the start of this match, it was 12 minutes.

8 -- THE GREAT KHALI vs. KANE vs. BATISTA - World Hvt. Title

Cole said Edge had successful surgery on his torn pec. JBL pointed out how small that huge title belt looked in Khali's hands. Good observation. It's true. Batista and Kane went after Khali in the opening seconds. Khali fended them both off and worked over Batista in the corner with a boot to the throat. Kane went after Khali from behind. Khali shoved him aside easily and dropped him to the mat with a swing of his arms. He followed with a clothesline on Batista. At 2:00 Khali applied a nerve hold on Batista's shoulder. When Kane went after Khali, Khali chokeslammed him to the mat, then held both of his arms in the air in a sign of strength. Both Kane and Batista were recovering at ringside when Khali went to ringside and tore apart the ECW announce table (good choice). Kane recovered enough to set up a chokeslam on Khali, but Khali elbowed out of it. Batista then went after Khali, but Khali easily outpowered him and pounded him with a forearm to the chest. JBL said that forearm is like a baseball bat. Kane and Batista double-teamed Khali and rammed him head-first into the steel steps, then lifted and dropped him through the ECW announce table.

Batista and Kane entered the ring and turned to fighting each other. Batista powerslammed Kane for a two count. Batista set up a superplex on Kane at 6:00, but Kane shoved Batista off of him and then flew off the top rope and hit Batista with a flying clothesline. As kane signalled for a chokeslam, Khali returned to the ring. Kane chokeslammed Khali and made the cover. Batista broke up the pin attempt, then clotheslined Kane over the top rope to the floor. Batista reversed Kane into the ringpost as Khali recovered in the ring. When Batista returned to the ring, Khali met Batista with a big boot. He swung a chop, but Batista ducked and hit a spinebuster. Kane broke up the pin attempt at 8:00. Kane charged at Batista shoulder-first, but when Batista moved, he went into the ringpost. Batista set up a Batista Bomb, but Kane countered with a chokeslam for a near fall. Kane grabbed a chair. Cole said the only rules are pinfalls and submissions end it, so the chair would be legal. Kane slid the chair into the ring. batista countered with a quick sidewalk slam. He shook the top rope as Cole yelled that the Animal had been unleashed. Batista gave Kane a Batista Bomb. When he made the cover, Khali yanked Batista out of the ring by the leg. He then threw him into the ringside steps at 10:00. Back in the ring, Khali gave Kane a big chokeslam and scored the pin to retain the World Hvt. Title. JBL said in his 12 years in WWE, that was the most dominant performance he's ever seen. JBL said one man will never beat that giant. He said if Kane and Batista couldn't do it together, what single man can? "God help Smackdown," he said.

WINNER: The Great Khali at 11:00.

STAR RATING (**1/2): That was clunky, and some people won't like it because there was no grace to it, but it really did tell a dramatic story and was well plotted and as well executed as possible given who was involved to the point of being exciting. They really built up Khali was a killer, unbeatable champion (assuming you're memory is short and you forget about John Cena beating him).

-A vignette aired hyping the return of Triple H, ending with a graphic for Summerslam.

-King Booker walked out with Sharmell and said there is only one king in WWE, and that is "King Boo-kah!" He then turned his attention to Jerry Lawler, whom he referred to as "Jerome Lawler." Lawler stood with his crown in hand. Lawler told Booker if he wants his crowd, come over and get it. Booker said he knew he would say, but he's King Booker so he doesn't come to anyone. He said since he has refused a direct command, he must treat it as an act of treason. Ross said they've been calling Lawler, "King," for 30 years. Ross said The Game will be back with them at Summerslam, as is their understanding.

9 -- JOHN CENA vs. BOBBY LASHLEY - WWE Hvt. Title Match

Lashley came out to new music. Cena came out second to a bigger pop for sure and few boos. Ross it is without a doubt the most coveted title in all of WWE. The bell rang to start the match at 28 minutes past the top of the hour. They opened with a collar and elbow tie-up. In a test of strength lock-up, Lashley overpowered Cena, then Cena powered back even. Lashley then shoved Cena into the corner. Cena looked at him like he was impressed and taken aback by his strength. Lashley used some amateur wrestling moves to take Cena down. Nice sequence that looked as real as anything all night. The crowd actually ohhed and ahhed the takedown sequence. At 3:00 Cena applied a side headlock. Lashley quickly powered out and shoved Cena against the ropes. Cena took Lashley down with a drop toe hold and went for a quick STFU. Lashley rolled out of the ring to the floor. Ross said that tells him that Lashley has great respect for the STFU. Back in the ring, Lashley leapfrogged Cena, then took him down with a check in a mid-ring collision. Lashley whipped Cena into the ropes, but when he charged, Cena moved. Cena went on offense with a bodyslam and an elbow drop for a near two count. At 4:00 a loud "Cena Sucks" chant broke out. Cena suplexed Lashley and made a cover, but barely got a two count. Cena charged Lashley, but Lashley extended a boot. He followed with a fallaway slam for a two count. Lashley controlled offense for a couple minutes. Cena came back with a blockbuster and then hit a top rope legdrop across the back of Lashley's neck. Cena covered Lashley for a two count. Lashley came back with a gut-buster variation followed by a rear chinlock and leg scissors. At 10:00 Cena powered to his feet and powered out. Cena came back with two Cena slams. He went into his "You Can't See Me" bit and the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. When he went for an FU, Lashley escaped and countered with an FU for a near fall. Lashley came back and applied a torture rack with a dropdown. He signalled to the fans to a mixed response. He lifted Cena, but Cena slipped out and gave Lashley an FU. He then collapsed to the mat along with Lashley. Cena crawled over after about 15 seconds and covered Lashley. Lashley lifted his shoulder just before the third count. Lashley caught a charging Cena with an elbow, then set up a spear. Cena countered with a drop toe hole and applied the STFU. The crowd stood as Ross went bonkers. Lashley withstood the hold for about 15 seconds, then began crawling toward the bottom rope. Cena pulled back just as Lashley got close. Lashley then reached the bottom rope. The ref forced a break. Ross said there would be another chapter in this championship match. Lashley surprised a frustrated Cena with a shoulder tackle and scored a convincing, dramatic near fall at 14:00. Lashley set Cena on the top rope as the high-pitched voices in the crowd chanted "Cena, Cena." Cena lifted Lashley, though, and gave him an FU from the top rope, then dropped on top of him for the pin.

WINNER: Cena in 15:00 to retain the WWE Hvt. Championship.

STAR RATING (***1/2): Very good match. They could have actually gone longer with the material they pulled out and not have overstayed their welcome. As it was, among Lashley's best matches easily. That was a PPV-calibre plotted and executed main event.

-Cena celebrated his win. Lashley recovered enough to stand. Ross said there must be tremendous mutual respect between those two amazing athletes. They met mid-ring and glared at each other. Cena's music stopped. Lashley offered his right hand. Cena stepped in closer, nodded, and shook his hand. Then they parted and Cena's music restarted. Ross said Cena knows he was just in the match of his life.

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